Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Time for Change

I am an IndianI do not want to become an American......by choiceI am proud of my Jana Gana, my Jhansi ki Rani,my resilient nature and my lit up DiwaliMy Amar Chitra Kathas, my NamasteysMy bhutta on the road and curbside Gol-GappesAnd I clutch on to my navy blue passportMy proof of my Indian-ness

I am an IndianI do not want to become an American...... by choiceI don't get all the jokes on SNLAm baffled even today by NFLI like the "u" in my colorAnd no ice in my waterAnd so I clutch on to my navy blue passportMy proof of my Indian-ness

I am an IndianI do not want to become an American...... by choiceI love the wide roads hereThe green in my suburb, the clean fresh airI love the politeness, the independenceThe discipline and the freedom of my spaceI am a tad selfish and a hypocriteAnd so I clutch on to my navy blue passportMy proof of my Indian-ness

My little girl is an AmericanAnd yesterday she got a brand new PresidentShe calls him "Orack Obama"I love that guy, his presence, his charismaAnd today I am proud of my daughter's American-ness,I believe in her presidentHe is no messiah but change is his tenet

"Who is your President?", she asksAnd I still clutch on to my navy blue passportDo I want to make the change, maybe Yes but not yet

Jana Gana Mana -- India's National AnthemJhansi Ki Rani -- the rebel queen of JhansiBhutta -- Corn on the cob roasted, salted and sold on carts on the roadsideGol-Gappe -- Panipuri

I guess we all have suffered these sentiments whenever we have stayed in US whether for( long terms or short terms ) , Identity Crisis is what I can sum up from these lines ..what an irony , we always cry for things which are not part of our lives , yet when they become part of our life, we want to run away (that includes me also) …I hope I am not hurting anyones sentiments here, If I have, I am sorry then...may the future generations , dont have to face this "Identity crisis"...~Jaya

I also love my U in colour, and though the skedule has won over the shedule. I too am happy very clutch onto my navy blue passport. But the big question is Can I be ecstatic about 'my' president as well?

It is fact that for grown ups, these simple questions never have simple answers.

Please give a big hug to Grown up Little S on getting the New President Orack Obama

Anon/Jaya"we always cry for things which are not part of our live"NO, I am not crying for anything. I love my life here but of course I cannot give up what I had been born and grown up with, can I ?I don't see it so much as a "crisis", more of a "multiple identity" which I feel enriches the individual as well as the country.

Notyet100, Meeta, ~nm, Happy Cook

Thank You :)

BWM

India te aajkal "skedule" bole naki ? And yes that is a question, maybe you were a couple of years back (ei term e to aboshoyi noy)

HeHe!! I hate ice in water too, still don't get the NFL but will be an American shortly, so we can fly to Europe in a moment's notice, without the rigmarole of getting VISA to every country we want to see other than India! :D

I am watching the Prez and waiting for his promises to be realized,want to see action rather than just words, no hero worship in my house ever.

Kids are born and raised here are Americans, don't let others tell them anything else, let them be "them" rather than "us", that's what I preach and practice! :))

Have a wonderful day S.It's so bloody cold here, I can't even type without my fingers getting stiff. Grr..!!

AshaMe, I am totally smitten by Obama. Had a fight with D because I thought he danced so beautifully with Michelle, looked into her eyes and that kind :)Had been to Europe on a visa, but not all of it and I do agree that not having to go with the rigmarole if you are travelling extensively helps

I don't tell S anything but because I have still reatined my nationality sometimes she wants to become "Indian" too. So I tell her that she is "both American & Indian" and that is much better than being just one :)

Very well written. Similar emotions hit me at different points of time in this country and it all came out in a deluge when I gave up my passport and got me a new nation. However it was all worth it when I cast my vote this past election and I am inching towards the point where the Star Spangled banner also gives me goosebumps. I think I will balance.

This is a very nice post. As a US citizen from birth (married to a Bong who has Indian citizenship), one of the things I am most happy about is the fact that so many people, American or not, and from very diverse backgrounds, are sharing the feelings of excitement, inspiration, and renewal Obama has generated. As you rightly say, "I don't see it so much as a "crisis", more of a "multiple identity" which I feel enriches the individual as well as the country." That richness of cultural identity is one of Obama's great strengths too!

what an absolutely touching post. So completely echoes my sentiments. I couldnt ever have put it so eloquently.Best parts: 1.Dont get the jokes in SNL.2. Like 'u' in my color3. No ice in my water!4.Do I want to make a change..maybe yes. But not yet!!Loved it!!!!

Thankfully yes, I do have the 'u' here :) but then I often come in contact with those who omit this 'u' and thats when I get thinking - why do they need a totally different version of English as compared to the other parts of the world?

I put it on my orkut acount bcoz I felt those were exactly my feelings & people told me that how good I have written..Then I realised my mistake..I should have taken your permission before using it..Now I have updated it as written by Sandeepa of "Bong Mom's Cookbook". With your due permission, can I mail this poem to my friends?..WIth your name as a writer of course..

I put it on my orkut acount bcoz I felt those were exactly my feelings & people told me that how good I have written..Then I realised my mistake..I should have taken your permission before using it..Now I have updated it as written by Sandeepa of "Bong Mom's Cookbook". With your due permission, can I mail this poem to my friends?..WIth your name as a writer of course..

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Predominantly a Bong, who loves being a Mom and loves to cook among other things for the li'l one and the big ones.She loves to write too and you will find her food spiced up with stories. Mainly a collection of Bengali Recipes with other kinds thrown in, in good measure. A Snapshot of Bengali Cuisine